Deep Creek Loop - Deep Creek Loop Trail in the Smoky Mountains

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Deep Creek Loop
Trail Features:		Waterfalls / Wildflowers
Trail Location:		Deep Creek
Roundtrip Miles:		4.6 miles
Total Elevation Gain:		579 feet
Avg. Elev Gain / Mile:		252 feet
Highest Elevation:		2437 feet
Trail Difficulty Rating:		5.76 (moderate)
Parking Lot Latitude:		35.4643
Parking Lot Longitude:		-83.4342

The Deep Creek Loop trailhead is located just north of Bryson City in North Carolina. To get there from Cherokee, head south on Rt. 19. You will drive exactly 10 miles from the intersection of 441 and 19 in Cherokee to Everett Street in Bryson City. Turn right onto Everett and drive for 0.2 miles. Turn right onto Depot Street. After a short distance, take a left onto Ramseur Street and then an immediate right onto Deep Creek Road. Drive 2.3 miles to the park entrance and then another 0.5 mile to the parking lot for the Deep Creek Loop.

Trail Description:

The Deep Creek Trail begins as a wide path as it traces Deep Creek up stream. Rewards are almost immediate on this trail. At 0.3 miles, 80-foot Toms Branch Falls (see photo to the left) spills down into the creek from the opposite bank.

At 0.8 miles, the loop portion of this trail begins. Turn right onto Indian Creek Trail. After walking just 0.1 mile, there is a short spur trail on your left that takes you down to Indian Creek Falls (see photo at the top). This is an awesome 25-foot falls. As you climb back to the main trail, and pass above the falls, you’ll notice that Indian Creek Falls is more of a water slide than a true waterfall.

As you continue on the loop portion of this trail, you'll cross over a bridge. You’ll notice that the Indian Creek valley, now on your right, is choked with rhododendron through this section.

At 1.4 miles, the Thomas Divide trail splits off to the right. Continue straight here.

At 1.7 miles, the loop trail splits off of Indian Creek Trail. Turn left here. For the next half-mile you'll climb 350 feet to reach the Sunkota Ridge Trail junction. After turning onto this section, you quickly leave the noisy creek behind. And with the possible exception of the sound of your own heavy breathing, you will enter a quiet valley.

At the Sunkata Ridge junction, go straight. It’s all downhill from here until you reach Deep Creek. At roughly 2.9 miles, you’ll reach Deep Creek Trail. Turn left, cross the bridge, and follow the trail back to the parking lot. From this point, the rest of the trail is relatively flat.

On your way back to the parking lot, at roughly 3.7 miles, you’ll reach a spur trail which takes you to Juney Whank Falls. The spur trail travels about 1.2 miles to the falls, and then another 0.25 miles back to the parking lot.

If you bypass the Juney Whank Falls spur, you will exit the loop portion of the trail in just another 0.1 mile. Continue straight for another 0.8 miles to reach the parking lot.